Extended Call for Papers
Media Ecology Association
11th Annual Convention
June 10-13, 2010
University of Maine, Orono
Media Ecology and Natural Environments
The subject of media ecology was formed with two biological metaphors in
mind, Neil Postman wrote in "The Humanism of Media Ecology" (2000). In
biology, a medium is a substance within which a culture grows. Change
"substance" to "technology" and media ecology defines medium as a
technology within which a culture grows, forming its politics, social
organization, and ways of thinking. In biology, ecology is the study of
what constitutes a balanced and healthy natural environment. Media
ecology refers to ways that cultures maintain a healthy symbolic balance
to help keep our natural world in order. Media ecology seeks to make us
more aware that we live in two different environments. We live in both
the natural environment of air, water, animals, and plants, and the
media environment of language, images, symbols, and technologies that
shape us.
The 11th Annual Convention of the Media Ecology Association
<http://www.media-ecology.org> invites papers, panels, creative
projects, and other proposals exploring all facets of media ecology and
those that focus on the convention theme, examining the connections
between the two ecologies, one of culture and communication, the other
of nature and the physical sciences. Convention submissions are welcome
that draw on a wide variety of perspectives in environmental studies in
the sciences and communication, from issues such as climate change,
biodiversity, acid rain, and wildlife ecology. How do media ecology and
natural ecology intersect? How do ecologists in humanities, social
sciences, and natural sciences create dialogue with each other? Can
scholarship bring artists, communication researchers, and scientists
together? What is the relationship between primary natural and virtual
media realities? What is the history of environmental thought?
Electronic submissions of abstracts, full papers, and panel proposals
are preferred and should be sent by March 1 to Paul Grosswiler
<paulg at maine.edu>, Chair, Department of Communication and Journalism,
420 Dunn Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04460. A maximum of two
submissions per author will be accepted. Authors who wish their papers
to be considered for the Top Paper or Top Student Paper award must
indicate that on their submissions. All submissions will be acknowledged.
The convention will be sponsored by the Vice President for Research, the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Department of
Communication and Journalism at the University of Maine. Campus housing
will be available. Tours of Maine's natural environments will be offered.
http://www.media-ecology.org